Probably a native of tropical America, Acacia farnesiana was introduced to many tropical countries for its bark, gum, seed and wood. It is often planted as an ornamental or to check erosion, and is also used in the perfume industry because of its scented flowers. This thorny, deciduous shrub grows to 4m in height forming impenetrable thickets or sometimes a more open cover and prefers dry habitats between sea level and 1000 m. In Australia it occurs along watercourses on rangeland and farmland limiting access to water. It has also become an invasive species in Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

In Hawaii Acacia farnesiana was formerly cultivated for an attempted perfume industry. It is now naturalised and common, sometimes becoming a pest in dry, open, disturbed areas, 2-400m (Wagner et al., 1999. In PIER, 2002). Although the aerial portions of the plant may be killed by fire, it soon regenerates from basal shoots, (Smith, 1985. In PIER, 2002). In Spain Acacia farnesiana is naturalised in rocky, poor soils (Paiva, 1999)

Uses

A tree of economic importance in South and East Africa, Rhodesia, India and the Rio Grande do Sul area of South America (Duke, 1983). The bark and the pods are a source of tannin and are used for tanning and dying leather (University of Connecticut, 2003). The flowers provide a fragrant essential oil which is used in the perfume industry as a violet scent substitute (Le Hou'erou, 2002). A gummy substance obtained from the pods is used in Java as cement for broken crockery. Other parts of the plant are used as an ingredient in the Ivory Coast for arrow poison (University of Connecticut, 2003). Trees add nitrogen and organic material, which improve the soil and are sometimes used for erosion control on poor sloping soils unsuitable for agriculture (Duke, 1983). Products are often used in folk medicine as styptics or astringents (Duke, 1983). In India and some African countries the pods are used as substitute for tamarind Tamarindus indica L. (Paiva, 1999). Cultivated in S.W. Europe for ornamental purposes and for perfumery industry (Tutin et al, 1992).

Acacia farnesiana can spread readily and grow quickly, (Land Protection, 2001). As it often forms thorny thickets along some watercourses in Australia, it can be a considerable nuisance during mustering and can also hinder access to water (Land Protection, 2001). While access is less of a problem in areas where cattle graze on the mimosa, they readily eat the nutritious seed pods assisting its spread.

Management Info

Preventative measures: A Risk Assessment of Acacia farnesiana for Hawai‘i and other Pacific islands was prepared by Dr. Curtis Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service. The alien plant screening system is derived from Pheloung et al. (1999) with minor modifications for use in Pacific islands (Daehler et al. 2004). The result is a score of 14 and a recommendation of: \"Likely to cause significant ecological or economic harm in Hawai‘i and on other Pacific Islands as \r\ndetermined by a high WRA score, which is based on published sources describing species biology and behaviour in Hawai‘i and/or other parts of the world.\"

Physical: \"Destroyed by cultivation and grubbing\" (Swarbrick, 1997. In PIER, 2002). Although the aerial portions may be killed by fire, it soon \r\r\nregenerates from basal shoots\"\" (Smith, 1985). Once established, the seedlings grow rapidly and resprout readily following damage or top removal. Acacia \r\r\nfarnesiana sprouts may grow to almost half their original total plant height within 5 months after shredding (Powell et al., 1972). Thus, mechanical top \r\r\nremoval results in only short-term suppression of A. farnesiana (Mutz et al. 1978) and gives the species competitive advantage over associated, slower \r\r\ngrowing woody plants. Almost pure, dense stands of A. farnesiana may develop within two to three growing seasons following brush control methods that \rdisturb the soil.\r\n

Chemical: Probably susceptible to translocated herbicides, including picloram, metsulfuorn-methyl, glyphosate and triclopyr, and possibly 2,4-D applied to the foliage, freshly cut stumps or by stem injection at standard rates. Also probably susceptible to residual herbicides, including tebuthiuron and hexazinone (Swarbrick, 1997 in PIER, 2002). \"Sensitive to foliar applications of triclopyr at 1 lb/acre and metsulfuron at 0.45 oz/a and to basal bark applications of 2,4-D or triclopyr at 2% in diesel. Drizzle applications were not effective in foliar and basal bark trials at Kihei, Maui, but these trials were confounded by a severe drought\" (Motooka et al. 2002. In PIER, 2002).

Informations on Acacia farnesiana has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.

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Acacia farnesiana can spread readily and grow quickly, (Land Protection, 2001). As it often forms thorny thickets along some watercourses in Australia, it can be a considerable nuisance during mustering and can also hinder access to water (Land Protection, 2001). While access is less of a problem in areas where cattle graze on the mimosa, they readily eat the nutritious seed pods assisting its spread.

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Management information

Preventative measures: A Risk Assessment of Acacia farnesiana for Hawai‘i and other Pacific islands was prepared by Dr. Curtis Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service. The alien plant screening system is derived from Pheloung et al. (1999) with minor modifications for use in Pacific islands (Daehler et al. 2004). The result is a score of 14 and a recommendation of: \"Likely to cause significant ecological or economic harm in Hawai‘i and on other Pacific Islands as \r\ndetermined by a high WRA score, which is based on published sources describing species biology and behaviour in Hawai‘i and/or other parts of the world.\"

Physical: \"Destroyed by cultivation and grubbing\" (Swarbrick, 1997. In PIER, 2002). Although the aerial portions may be killed by fire, it soon \r\r\nregenerates from basal shoots\"\" (Smith, 1985). Once established, the seedlings grow rapidly and resprout readily following damage or top removal. Acacia \r\r\nfarnesiana sprouts may grow to almost half their original total plant height within 5 months after shredding (Powell et al., 1972). Thus, mechanical top \r\r\nremoval results in only short-term suppression of A. farnesiana (Mutz et al. 1978) and gives the species competitive advantage over associated, slower \r\r\ngrowing woody plants. Almost pure, dense stands of A. farnesiana may develop within two to three growing seasons following brush control methods that \rdisturb the soil.\r\n

Chemical: Probably susceptible to translocated herbicides, including picloram, metsulfuorn-methyl, glyphosate and triclopyr, and possibly 2,4-D applied to the foliage, freshly cut stumps or by stem injection at standard rates. Also probably susceptible to residual herbicides, including tebuthiuron and hexazinone (Swarbrick, 1997 in PIER, 2002). \"Sensitive to foliar applications of triclopyr at 1 lb/acre and metsulfuron at 0.45 oz/a and to basal bark applications of 2,4-D or triclopyr at 2% in diesel. Drizzle applications were not effective in foliar and basal bark trials at Kihei, Maui, but these trials were confounded by a severe drought\" (Motooka et al. 2002. In PIER, 2002).

Daehler, C.C; Denslow, J.S; Ansari, S and Huang-Chi, K., 2004. A Risk-Assessment System for Screening Out Invasive Pest Plants from Hawaii and Other Pacific Islands. Conservation Biology Volume 18 Issue 2 Page 360.Summary: A study on the use of a screening system to assess proposed plant introductions to Hawaii or other Pacific Islands and to identify high-risk species used in horticulture and forestry which would greatly reduce future pest-plant problems and allow entry of most nonpests.

Deyrup, M., Davis, L. and Cover, S. 2000. Exotic ants in Florida. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 126: 293-326.Summary: More than 50 species of exotic ants have established breeding populations in Florida. This is the largest exotic ant fauna of any U.S. state. An annotated list of species (including distribution, origin, and pest status) includes 4 new records for the U.S.

Geographic region: Pacific, Indian OceanEcosystem: Terrestrial Expert in the botany of French Polynesia and the Pacific Islands, and has worked on ecology and biological control of Miconia calvescens in French Polynesia.